The crumb of comfort for Sheffield United fans as all scenarios still point to European football

John Lundstram is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win against Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt)

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Sheffield United fans are still no nearer to knowing exactly how, when and even if their brilliant first season back in the Premier League will resume.

Yesterday's latest meeting of all 20 Premier League clubs offered us no clues as to what the future holds but it was at least reassuring to hear that 'clubs discussed possible steps towards planning to resume the 2019/20 season, when it is safe and appropriate to do so.'

The Premier League should be commended for the way it is trying to do all it can to maintain the integrity of the league by finishing this season, but there still remains more questions than answers.

The logistics behind finishing this current campaign still pose a multitude of problems and a lot of those involved in the game, while harbouring hopes the season will return, actually believe it won't.

They still feel there is a chance the season may have to be scrapped.

Chris Wilder's men were sat seventh in the table, just two points behind Manchester United in fifth when football in this country came to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic.

If the Premier League does manage to keep the season alive, in whatever shape of form, United will have ten games remaining to try and achieve something this club has never managed to do before and qualify for Europe. They will also have the small matter of the FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal to throw into the mix, too.

But if it doesn't resume, what then?

Providing the season is not declared null and void, all the possible scenarios suggested so far all point to United still landing a place in Europe.

It may only be a small crumb of comfort, but it will hopefully offer hope to all those fans who fear United's unbelievable efforts this season may count for nothing.

Here's all the scenarios and how United stand to benefit if the season cannot be continued.

UEFA's preferred choice

UEFA recently announced that if football associations cannot resume their fixtures and decided to call their season to a halt, it strongly recommends using 'sporting merit', i.e points per game, to work out final league positions.

This would see United leapfrog Wolves from seventh into sixth, which will guarantee them a Europa League place.

The Champions League places would go to Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester United, who would get Manchester City's spot due to their UEFA ban.